The Fraud Squad by Kyla Zhao

The Fraud Squad is a fun and light-hearted debut from Singaporean-American author, Kyla Zhao. A book that does not take itself too seriously, the story is set in the glamourous but cutthroat world of Singaporean high fashion and high society.

Samantha Song works an unfulfilling and unexciting role in public relations but she has always dreamed of working at one of the most elite publications in Singapore. However, Samantha is from an impoverished background and works to support her chronically ill mother. Without the family background, connections or wealth to support her in Singapore’s highly stratified society, Samantha’s ambitions must remain unfulfilled. That is, until one fateful night when she agrees to join her wealthy colleague Anya for dinner. At the dinner she meets Timothy, the scion of one Singapore’s most wealthy and established families. And, between the three of them, they come up with an audacious plan to turn this working-class girl into the city’s newest and coolest socialite. There is just one catch. For the plan to work, no one can know of Samantha’s real background. If she is to infiltrate high society and land the life of her dreams, she will have to decide what, and who, is most important to her.

Clearly drawing on her background as a former fashion and lifestyle writer at Vogue Singapore, Zhao has created a vibrant world for readers. Zhao’s Singapore is colourful and entertaining though likely skewed to pander to Western audiences desperate for more content after the success of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. While the motivations of the characters do not always make sense and this causes them to come across as a little one dimensional, The Fraud Squad will satisfy anyone looking for an amusing and uncomplicated read.

Themes: Romance, Friendship, Family, Singapore, Asian literature, Fashion, LGBTQ+.

Rose Tabeni